Tightrope Walker Strolls Between Hot Air Balloons [Video]

According to BBC News, which posted the video to YouTube, that’s a Chinese acrobat being filmed for Chinese state video. Apparently, he actually set the Guinness World Record for the fastest ever highwire walk at a height of 108 feet between the two hot air balloons.

A brief note at MSN Now added that the acrobat is 40-year-old Aisikaier Wubulikasimu, who has apparently done this kind of thing before. They said that the metal bar between the two balloons was a puny two inches wide and that it took the tightrope walker 38.35 seconds to make the trip.

The Adrenalist said that in July 2012, Aisikaier Wubulikasimu was trying to set another tightrope walking world record by walking backward, blindfolded, and unharnessed across a 2,300 foot gorge in China.

That wasn’t something meant to end well. 50 minutes into the walk and a mere 131 feet from his goal, he fell and plunged 130 feet.

He obviously survived, but we’re not talking about a long, painful rehab story here. He actually walked away with injuries described as minor scratches and bruises.

By the way, there are multiple stories posted across the internet stating that Aisikaier Wubulikasimu fell 650 feet. Even the MSN NOW story about this week’s record wrongly repeated the claim.

People, use a little common sense. There was in fact a point where the canyon he was crossing was as deep as 650 feet — the middle of the canyon. If he’d fallen there, it would be curtains even for him.

But don’t just take my word for it. See for yourself.

Here’s a video of that attempt — and the fall — posted last year by CBS news:

Don’t be afraid to watch. He really does bounce right back up.

Aisikaier Wubulikasimu clearly has a lot of courage. I for one wouldn’t be tightrope walking between balloons or much of anything else after taking that dive.